June 23rd, Konoha 60th year, outside the main gate of Hidden Leaf Village.
A luxurious carriage slowly approached from a distance, and a man dressed in samurai attire, walking beside the carriage, crossed his arms and looked at the Konoha gate ahead, sighing:
"I never thought that one day, I, My Lord, could walk into Konoha Village so openly."
A young woman dressed as a maid beside him smiled and covered her mouth:
"Lord Zabuza, we have Lord to thank for bringing us here."
At this moment, Li Chuan also poked his head out of the carriage:
"Remember your identities, one is Captain Zabuza of the Your Highness's Royal Guard, and the other is the maid White. Don't blow your cover, or it will be very troublesome."
When he left the Naruto World last time, the Daimyo summoned him to his mansion and ordered him, as Your Highness, to lead the nobles of the Land of Fire to Konoha to observe the Chunin Exams.
So, after returning this time, he immediately summoned Zabuza and White to the Land of Fire, and then had the two of them use the Transformation Technique to become attendants and come with him.
Actually, under normal circumstances, the dignitaries of various countries would only come for the final official matches, but Li Chuan, in order to scout ahead and gather intelligence on Konoha, definitely had to come early.
Otherwise, if they waited until the official matches began, there wouldn't be enough time.
"We are more professional at these things than you."
Zabuza rolled his eyes and replied.
As an Elite Jonin, he was definitely much more professional than Li Chuan, this pampered Your Highness, in various techniques like infiltration, disguise, and intelligence gathering.
"Lord, don't worry, we have already changed our appearance with the Transformation Technique. As long as we try not to use Ninjutsu, even if we encounter Kakashi, he won't be able to recognize us."
White explained softly.
"That's good."
Li Chuan looked at White's appearance, nodded, and lowered the curtain.
To be honest, when White used the Transformation Technique to become a girl, there was absolutely no sense of incongruity. His tone of voice, intonation, and movements were completely those of a gentle young lady.
It made him sigh, how terrifying a cross-dressing master could be.
"Stop, please show your relevant pass."
At the Konoha gate, two Ninja wearing green vests saw the carriage approaching and stood up to block it outside the gate.
White smiled and stepped forward, taking out a stamped pass and handing it to one of the Ninja:
"My My Lord is the esteemed Your Highness Enkawa, who has come to Konoha by the Daimyo's order to observe your Chunin Exams. We have already sent a letter to inform your Hokage-sama in advance."
The Ninja quickly scanned the document, and after confirming it was correct, his tone immediately softened, and he replied very politely:
"So it is Your Highness. Welcome to Hidden Leaf Village. Hokage-sama already gave orders this morning. My name is Izumo Kamizuki, and I will now take you to see Hokage-sama."
"The Land of Fire and Konoha are originally one; there's no need to be so formal."
Li Chuan lifted the carriage curtain, dressed in a Land of Fire noble's attire, and leaped down from it.
"Your Highness, are you not riding in the carriage anymore?"
White quickly walked over to support Li Chuan, her face full of concern, fully demonstrating the qualities a maid should possess.
Li Chuan, however, waved his hand:
"My back hurts from sitting the whole way; I want to get out and walk. After all, it's my first time in Konoha, and I've always heard that Konoha Village has charming scenery. It's a good opportunity to admire it."
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Izumo Kamizuki and his good friend Kotetsu Hagane immediately bowed respectfully when they saw Li Chuan alight from the carriage.
Although the Ninja in this World are powerful, in their perception, the status of nobles is still very high, especially a top-tier noble like Li Chuan.
"Hahaha, no need for that, just call me Chuan. Thank you for leading the way."
Li Chuan smiled and nodded.
Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane exchanged glances, both relieved.
They hadn't expected this Your Highness to be quite pleasant; it seemed today's Reception (reception) work would be much easier.
And so, led by Izumo Kamizuki, Li Chuan and the others passed through the Konoha gate and the powerful protective barrier outside the walls, entering the most prosperous and powerful Hidden Leaf Village in the Naruto World.
Clean streets, comfortable houses, bustling thoroughfares, and Ninja and villagers with happy faces coming and going. Compared to other Ninja Villages, Konoha, on the surface, could indeed be considered the best Village.
This could be seen from Zabuza's extremely envious gaze beside him.
Many tragedies had indeed occurred in Konoha, and many people had died, but it was still much better compared to other Ninja Villages.
Living conditions were superior, and various shops were well-equipped. Children who wanted to become Ninja could go to the Ninja Academy when they reached the age, with dedicated teachers to guide them and peers to play and improve with.
After graduation, they would also be assigned to Chunin and Jonin, starting with the simplest, non-dangerous missions, slowly adapting to Ninja combat.
Looking at other Ninja Villages, they were either covered in sandstorms or dust, even drinking water was a problem, let alone how good life was, or they were engaged in infighting, with seven or eight-year-old children already having blood on their hands.
The only slightly better one was probably Kumogakure, which could barely compare with Konoha in terms of economic conditions and humanistic aspects, and even suppressed Konoha when the Fourth Hokage had just died, the Three Sannin had left, and the younger generation had not yet risen.
"It's the Hokage Rock."
After walking for about ten minutes, Li Chuan saw the four giant stone statues carved into the distant cliff, which were the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokage of Konoha.
"Izumo Kamizuki, have the Ninja from other Ninja Villages arrived?"
"Your Highness, the Sand Shinobi, Otogakure, and Grass Ninja Village Ninja arrived this morning. The Rain and Waterfall Ninja have not yet arrived."
Izumo Kamizuki replied respectfully.
Although Your Highness told him to just call him by name, he couldn't truly be so disrespectful.
"Speaking of which, I know a few Ninja from your Village. I wonder if they will participate in the Chunin Exams this time."
Li Chuan smiled.
Izumo Kamizuki looked surprised:
"Your Highness also knows Genin from our Village?"
If Li Chuan had mentioned Jonin or Chunin, he wouldn't have been surprised, because Chunin and Jonin on missions had opportunities to come into contact with nobles of Li Chuan's level.
But Genin, they basically didn't leave the Village much and only did low-level missions. Except for the Daimyo's wife who often lost her cats, there shouldn't have been any opportunity.
Even he, a Special Jonin, was seeing this Your Highness of the Land of Fire for the first time.
"Yes, I met them during my travels a while ago. Their names are... Oh, I see them! Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, long time no see!"
As Li Chuan and Izumo Kamizuki were chatting, he happened to see Naruto and the two others under a large tree in the distance, so he waved to them.
"Brother Chuan!!!"
Naruto and the two others were discussing the Chunin Exams, which they had just heard about from the Sand Shinobi Ninja who came from outside, when they suddenly heard a familiar voice. They turned around and saw it was Li Chuan, and immediately exclaimed in surprise.
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